24 Sep Website creation: how to get started, and which elements are important
The website is a very important platform for companies, since it allows them to present themselves to target audiences, and compile information about the services or products which they provide. It can make all the difference for businesses looking to increase sales, boost authority, reach new audiences and cultivate a greater online presence.
To create a website, first of all you need to choose and purchase a domain, as well as identify a hosting server. The domain is the URL that will be used to access your website. The choice of domain must be directly related to your company’s name. To check whether the name you want is available, visit GoDaddy or RegistroBR.
The hosting server, on the other hand, is the place where all your website content – images, text and videos – will be stored. Hosting services are typically offered on an annual plan, and in different configurations. You should aim to research and identify the best options for your website before choosing a plan.
Which companies can have websites?
Companies from several different industries can use a website to boost their business; agencies that offer marketing and e-commerce services, to give one example. Bars, restaurants and schools can also have their own websites, showcasing the physical location together with photos, values and background information. Individual professionals can have a personal website too, providing articles and content so that others can get to know their work.
A Rabbit Hole client who works in Digital Marketing asked our help in creating their website, to showcase their work and experience, and make their articles available to interested parties. They wisely opted to create the website in three different languages (Portuguese, English and Spanish), thus expanding its reach on Google.
Whether you are an individual, brand or company, the process for creating a website remains the same. It requires planning, and a visual identity which echoes the style of the company or brand in question. You may need the help of a programmer and a designer. You can set up a website on your own even without these skills, although the results may vary. Establish your budget and your goals beforehand, to determine whether it’s better to hire a professional or do it yourself.
Elements that every website should have
Some elements are crucial for the creation of any website. One such element is the friendly URL: a small, simple and objective domain name. Another essential element is the Menu, which compiles the main sections of the website that the user can navigate through. The menu usually includes handy links to contact information, services, the company blog and portfolio, and more.
Contact Information and Blog
Contact details are crucial for websites, since people who are interested in your business need a way to communicate with you. This information should be easily accessible via the Menu. Another important section is the Blog, a space where you can post articles that are of interest to your site’s visitors.
Portfolio
Let’s not forget the portfolio, which is the space dedicated to showing work for former clients. This section is essential for companies such as marketing agencies, who can use it to showcase the results of their work to date.
Social networks
Social media buttons are essential too. If a user enjoys the content in an article on your site, and wants to share it on their social media channels, these buttons allow them to do so. Including them makes it easier to advertise your business elsewhere.
Responsive Design
Companies hoping to succeed should pay close attention to responsive design, because most Brazilians currently use a mobile device as their primary means of accessing the internet. A layout that works on both desktop and mobile, and displays properly on large and small screens, is essential for any aspiring website.
High speed
Speed plays a big role in user experience. No matter how high the quality of your site’s content, visitors will lose patience if it takes too long to load. With this in mind, try testing each page’s loading time to make sure they are performing as well, and as quickly, as possible.
Content optimization
Content optimization using SEO techniques is important too – not for the creation of the site itself, but for its ensuing performance on Google. Companies create websites to be seen and reached by as many potential customers as possible, and to present their products and services. For this to happen, the website should appear among the top search result positions on Google.
The difference between a website and a landing page
A landing page is a single page which has the objective of converting a visitor into a lead. Unlike a website, which has several pages with different functions and objectives, the landing page is typically a single page containing a value offer, to convince users to sign up via a form. It is usually made up of a title stating the offer, a form and a CTA button.
HTTPS
This element, present on most websites, is a protocol with a security certificate encrypting the communication between a computer and the website, so that nobody can see the data that is being transmitted. This protocol is critical to a website’s security.
Is the company website ready now?
Even with the entire structure of a website in place, work goes on. We’ve already mentioned the importance of SEO for properly positioning a website on Google, and making it easier for the general public to find it. Among the free, easy-to-use tools which website owners can use to ensure strong SEO is Google Search Console.
This tool allows you to index your site’s new content pages, check if Google can crawl and find a page, and generate reports that will help you to make decisions and formulate SEO strategies for your site. While it is an important first step, the creation of a website is not enough to guarantee the success of your business. You will also need to track your site’s performance on Google, especially to find out whether people are visiting, and whether your work is bearing fruit.
Creating a website and following it up will allow your business to grow its visibility, and reach its target audiences. The work involved is multifaceted, so if you have the budget for it, make sure to seek professional help to improve your users’ experience as much as possible, so that they keep coming back to your site.
